"They've left...", Moa looked at the closed office door and let out a gentle breath.
Now that Rosse had left, she no longer needed to pretend.
To be honest, the fact that they dared to attack the Holy Land this time was largely thanks to Rosse's intelligence.
After gaining his trust, the intel Rosse provided was just too detailed.
So detailed that they knew exactly how many powerful figures were in the Holy Land, and where each one was located, it was all perfectly clear.
Even the fact that the Five Elders would not personally enter the battle at the start was all part of the plan.
The CP0 and God's Knights forces looked like S-class in strength, but most of them were only S-, and their real combat ability couldn't compare to pirates who fought constantly.
Not to mention, they still had hidden forces waiting.
As long as the Five Elders didn't act at the start, the Holy Land was guaranteed to suffer heavy losses this time.
And as for Whitebeard's side, there were still ways to get reinforcements.
Thinking of this, Moa picked up the Navy-exclusive Den Den Mushi on the desk and dialed Kong's line.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, I have important intel to report. The Holy Land has been attacked by Golden Lion and other pirates. Saint Rosse has already gone to reinforce. Marine Headquarters is currently guarded by Sakazuki."
———
[New World, Waters Near the Elbaph]
Dozens of warships were advancing mightily across the sea. Due to Whitebeard's sudden appearance, the original search operation had now become a siege campaign.
The World Government simply combined all the fleets into one, rampaging through the New World, any enemy daring to intercept them would be torn apart easily.
Aboard a Navy ship.
Kong hung up the Den Den Mushi, his face filled with gravity.
"What's wrong?", Tsuru stood beside him and asked with concern.
For Kong to show such an expression could only mean the situation was already quite serious.
"The Holy Land was attacked by Golden Lion and the others. The situation is very critical right now," Kong said solemnly.
In his understanding, if even Rosse had to be recalled, the situation was already extremely dire.
If not for the need to leave someone guarding Marine HQ in case it was attacked, even Sakazuki would've been recalled to the Holy Land.
"We need to inform those people first," Tsuru pondered for a moment, then glanced at the two ships beside them.
This kind of matter, they couldn't decide on their own. Their opinions didn't matter.
"I was thinking the same thing," Kong nodded and stepped into the air with Geppo, flying toward the ship carrying the Five Elders.
On Tsuru's end, the message was passed on to Garp and Sengoku.
Upon receiving the message, Sengoku only frowned slightly. However, Kuzan and Garp's expressions flickered, as if something was stirring in their hearts.
Kong quickly arrived at the ship carrying the Five Elders.
"Is there something you need?", Saint Saturn asked calmly.
Three of the Five Elders, along with God's Knights Commander Saint Garling, were all gathered in the spacious cabin. As soon as Kong entered, all eyes turned to him.
"A message from Headquarters: the Holy Land is under attack. Saint Rosse has already gone to reinforce," Kong reported in a deep voice.
He knew that most likely, everyone here was already aware of this.
They had probably gathered because of this news.
But some things still had to be reported in person. Otherwise, it would be his dereliction of duty.
"Understood. You're dismissed," Saint Saturn merely nodded nonchalantly, offering no further comment.
"Understood!", Kong asked no extra questions, nor did he ask what they intended to do.
Saint Saturn may have said little, but his meaning was clear.
Since they knew and still took no action, everything would proceed as usual.
If something went wrong, naturally those who gave the orders would take the blame.
Kong came quickly and left quickly.
Once he was gone, the room instantly became tense again.
"What's the meaning of this? The Holy Land is under attack, and none of you want to go back to reinforce?"
Saint Nusjuro's sharp gaze swept over the others present. Under his gaze, Saint Mars, Saint Saturn, and Saint Garling all appeared unusually composed.
"Those two aren't moving, what's the point of you getting anxious? What good would going back now even do?", Saint Mars said blandly.
Right now, his only goal was to eliminate Whitebeard and avenge Saint Arlin.
Aside from that, nothing else mattered.
As for the Holy Land, those who stayed behind could worry about it.
This time, they had brought almost all of their family's elite combat force with them. The ones left behind in their family were just low-class pigs. Even if they died, it wasn't a big deal.
On the contrary, if only their family suffered heavy losses while Saint Peter and Saint Warcury's families remained untouched, then don't blame them for joining forces to accuse them and say their defense was incompetent.
Saint Mars' thinking was very simple.
Their family had already lost a God's Knights. Everyone else should lose one too for things to be fair.
"Our priority right now is the campaign against Whitebeard. That whole spectacle back there is just to force us to return," Saint Garling said calmly, locking eyes with Saint Nusjuro without backing down.
Last time, the Figarland family competed with Jaygarcia for power, and they had lost badly.
Now that Rosse was on the rise, it was hard for them to find another breakthrough.
If they still wanted to become a Five Elder, the only option was to drag others down.
Originally, his target had been Saint Mars. After all, the Mars family had already lost a God's Knights and was in a transitional period.
But now, with such a rare opportunity, he would rather see the Holy Land thrown into greater chaos.
Best case, one of the families would be completely wiped out. That would be the best outcome for him.
As long as the current Five Elders didn't die, no positions would open up. If there were no openings, how could he get promoted?
And to vacate a seat, the method was simple.
As long as a current Five Elder made a mistake, that being above would naturally issue punishment.
If they hadn't left the Holy Land, and if Figarland's strongmen hadn't joined the expedition, he would've even guided the enemy himself.
"Aren't you afraid this will lead to irreversible consequences?", Saint Nusjuro snorted coldly. He clearly saw through their thoughts.
But allying with outside enemies for the sake of internal power struggles, he found that utterly despicable.
Still, if the others wouldn't act, there was no use in him acting alone.
"Saint Peter and Saint Warcury haven't contacted us. We'll proceed as usual," Saint Saturn added from the side.
Everything on both sides seemed to have nothing to do with him.
His campaign against Whitebeard was framed as standing up for the attempt on Rosse's life.
And at this stage, no one would dare find trouble with Jaygarcia.
Rosse had already grown up and was expected to take over once Saturn stepped down.
At the level their family had reached, everyone knew they had basically peaked.
One family having two Five Elders, that didn't follow the rules.
So no one would suspect that this whole situation was orchestrated by Saint Saturn and Rosse.
As for why Saint Saturn was siding with Saint Mars and Saint Garling?
Naturally, they'd had private dealings, he'd accepted some benefits.
'You mess with our family in the Holy Land? Then you'll need to offer me benefits to buy my neutrality, to keep me from getting involved in Holy Land affairs.'
'This feeling, it's really comfortable…'
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